Marc Guehi Contract Situation May Not be Good News for Liverpool as Real Madrid Circle

When Marc Guehi’s transfer to Liverpool collapsed on deadline day many thought it was just a case of delaying the inevitable… but maybe not.

The England centre-back had begun undergoing a medical with the Premier League champions and his £35 million move was very close to completion, until Crystal Palace pulled the plug at the last minute.

Liverpool still want Guehi but they must now wait until 2026 to make another move, at which point they could face a very high-profile rival for his signature.

Why did Marc Guehi’s move to Liverpool collapse on deadline day?

Liverpool’s £35m offer for Guehi late in the summer window came as no surprise to Palace. Eagles bosses were preparing for Guehi’s departure behind the scenes, including trying to source a suitable replacement.

While the Eagles signed 19-year-old Jaydee Canvot from Toulouse for £17.5m on deadline day, manager Oliver Glasner was not satisfied that the hole Guehi would be leaving had been adequately filled.

It is understood that Glasner and Palace chairman Steve Parish had a heated row. Glasner is alleged to have told Parish that he would quit if Guehi was sold.

Despite failing to get the Guehi deal over the line, Liverpool still spent £446.5m in a transfer window that saw Premier League clubs splash out more than £3.2 BILLION. Liverpool’s net spend was £218.4m, while Palace made a profit of £17.1m.

When does Marc Guehi’s contract expire at Crystal Palace?

Palace chief Parish was keen to sell Guehi from a purely business perspective, because he had less than 12 months remaining on his contract.

That contract is due to expire on June 30 next year, after which Guehi will be able to leave Selhurst Park on a free transfer.

A Bosman-style departure in 2026 now looks highly likely because it is being widely reported that Guehi plans to refuse any new contract offer from Palace.

Real Madrid has entered the Marc Guehi chat

Liverpool will almost certainly still want Guehi next summer. He will turn 26 next July and will therefore be approaching what should be his prime years.

However, the Reds are unlikely to have a free run at the former Chelsea youth product.

Newcastle and Tottenham Hotspur had previously seen bids for Guehi rejected and they may well try again next summer.

It is now being claimed that Real Madrid could also emerge as contenders to sign Guehi once the price drops to zero.

Real Madrid’s history with free transfers

Real Madrid have been involved in their fair share of mega-money moves down the years. They have splashed out on transfer fees in excess of €100m on three occasions in their illustrious history (€127.00m for Jude Bellingham, €120.80m in 2023 for Eden Hazard in 2019, €101.00m for Gareth Bale in 2013).

However, Madrid are also widely known as masters of the free transfer.

David Alaba in 2021, Antonio Rudiger in 2022 and Kylian Mbappe in 2024 all arrived at the world’s biggest club as free agents.

Trent Alexander-Arnold would also have been a freebie this summer had it not been for the FIFA Club World Cup starting shortly before his Liverpool contract expired, prompting Madrid to offer a modest €10m to get him early.

Rudiger will be 33 next summer and Guehi could well be the ideal replacement, especially if Palace cannot command a transfer fee.

Guehi wanted Liverpool more than he had wanted Newcastle or Spurs. But don’t be surprised if the Bernabeu trumps Anfield.